News & Resources

Equality Federation won’t stop until all LGBTQ+ people are fully empowered and represented in their communities, experiencing full equality in their lives.

The Latest

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Orlando One Year Later: #HonorThemWithAction

As we mark a year from the Pulse massacre that claimed the lives of 49 people, Equality Federation stands with Equality Florida in their campaign to #HonorThemWithAction.

May 31, 2017
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Texas On Verge of Passing Extreme Anti-LGBTQ Laws

Governor Abbott has called for a special session to continue pushing for an anti-transgender bathroom ban.

May 24, 2017
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Victory! Connecticut and Nevada Ban Anti-LGBTQ Conversion Efforts

Equality Federation congratulates our partners and advocates on the ground who have worked tirelessly for these victories in Connecticut and Nevada. This week, we add two more to the list of states that have banned conversion “therapy” for minors.

May 17, 2017
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Equality Federation Condemns Tennessee Gov. for Signing Anti-LGBTQ Bill

Equality Federation has condemned Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam for signing HB 1111/SB 1085, requiring that all words in Tennesee state code be defined as their so-called “natural” or “biological” meanings.

May 9, 2017
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Trump's Executive Order

Today President Trump signed a troubling and unnecessary executive order (full text below) that directs the Justice Department to draft religious exemptions guidelines that could promote anti-LGBT discrimination, promotes limiting access to contraception, and promotes partisan political spending by churches.

May 4, 2017
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Majority of Americans & People of Faith Stand Against Discrimination

President Trump is rumored to be planning on signing a religious exemptions executive order on Thursday that would give license to discriminate against LGBTQ Americans and their families.

May 3, 2017

Press Releases

Married Same-Sex Couples Now Protected By Family and Medical Leave Act

The Department of Labor has issued some great news for LGBT couples and their families: married same-sex couples will soon be eligible for benefits under the Family and Medical Leave Act even if they live in a state that doesn’t recognize their marriage. From a release on the Department’s website, workers in same-sex marriages will have the same rights as those in opposite-sex marriages to federal job-protected leave under the FMLA to care for a spouse with a serious health condition.

February 28, 2015
Exposed: Dangerous "Gay Conversion Therapy" Still Practiced in Most States (video)

Dangerous forms of "therapy" are performed every day in the United States and throughout the world in an attempt to "convert" lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people to conform to heterosexuality and traditional gender standards. Despite the progress we've made achieving the freedom to marry in many states and the increased cultural acceptance of LGBT people, this dangerous practice continues.

February 27, 2015
Nathan Schaefer

Nathan Schaefer is the Executive Director of the Empire State Pride Agenda and the Empire State Pride Agenda Foundation. In this capacity, he oversees the organization’s staff across the state and is responsible for advancing equality and justice for LGBT New Yorkers via the various facets of both organizations.

February 26, 2015
Meet The First Legally Wed Same-Sex Couple in Texas!

Sarah Goodfriend and Suzanne Bryant have been together almost 31 years, and this morning they were married in Texas! A Travis County Judge ordered the clerk to issue the license, citing a serious health condition of one of the women.

February 19, 2015
Pediatrician Refuses To Care For Baby With Lesbian Mothers

A Michigan pediatrician has refused to care for the baby of a lesbian couple, a sad illustration of why every state needs inclusive nondiscrimination laws that do not have loopholes that could put lives in danger. Currently, 206 million people live in a state that does not have nondiscrimination laws to fully protect gay and transgender people. 

February 19, 2015
Leadership Opportunity from the Arcus Foundation

Good news for Federation members from the Arcus Foundation! They have announced that applications are now being accepted for the 2015 Arcus Leadership Fellowship.

February 17, 2015
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With your support, we'll be able to continue our work to build the leaders of today and tomorrow, strengthen state-based LGBTQ+ organizations, and make critical progress on the issues that matter most—like protecting transgender people, ending HIV criminalization and ensuring access to care, and banning conversion therapy across the country.